Abstract
This chapter introduces the non-binary movement by summarising what has happened in non-binary activism so far in the UK, US, and Canada particularly. The first half of the chapter charts the history of the non-binary movement, highlighting the issues which non-binary activism has focused on. The second half of the chapter presents a personal reflection from Canada-based trans activist and writer S. Bear Bergman on non-binary activism. This specifically focuses on activism around language, given the binary gender nature of the English language, and the common struggles non-binary people face in relation to linguistic misgendering and microaggressions in their everyday lives.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
References
Note: Unless otherwise stated, all online materials were accessed at the time of writing in 2017
Action for Trans Health. (2016). Falling Through the Cracks: Non-binary People’s Experiences of Transition Related Healthcare. Retrieved from http://www.actionfortranshealth.org.uk
All About Trans. (2016). Gender Identity: Non-binary. Retrieved from http://www.allabouttrans.org.uk/category/non-binary
Barker, M.-J. (2014, July 15). Trigger Warning: Trigger Warnings (Towards a Different Approach). Open Democracy. Retrieved from http://www.opendemocracy.net/transformation/meg-barker/trigger-warning-trigger-warnings-towards-different-approach
Barker, M.-J. (2015). Activist/Academic Space Guidelines. Retrieved from http://www.rewriting-the-rules.com/resources-2/activistacademic-space-guidelines
Barker, M.-J., & Lester, C. N. (2015). Non-binary Gender Factsheet. Retrieved from http://www.rewriting-the-rules.com/resources-2/non-binary-gender-factsheet
Barker, M.-J., Richards, C., Jones, R., Bowes-Catton, H., & Plowman, T. (2012). The Bisexuality Report: Bisexual Inclusion in LGBT Equality and Diversity. Milton Keynes, UK: The Open University, Centre for Citizenship, Identity and Governance.
Be: Non-binary. (2016). Trans Support and Development in the North. Retrieved from http://www.be-north.org.uk/events/be-non-binary-2016-04-17
Bem, S. L., & Lewis, S. A. (1975). Sex Role Adaptability: One Consequence of Psychological Androgyny. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31(4), 634.
Bennet, J. (2016, January 30). She? Ze? They? What’s in a Gender Pronoun? New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/31/fashion/pronoun-confusion-sexual-fluidity.html
Beyond the Binary. (2015, September 15). #SpecificDetriment: What’s Your Response? Retrieved from http://www.beyondthebinary.co.uk/specificdetriment-whats-your-response
Beyond the Binary. (2016). A Magazine for UK Non-binary People. Retrieved from http://www.beyondthebinary.co.uk
Bornstein, K. (1994). Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women and the Rest of Us. New York: Routledge.
Bornstein, K., & Bergman, S. B. (Eds.). (2010). Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation. New York: Avalon Publishing Group.
Breaking the Binary. (2016). Research and Journalism Project Exploring Non-binary Gender. Retrieved from http://www.breakingthebinary.wordpress.com
Cambridge University Students’ Union LGBT+ Campaign. (2016). Recommendations: Toilet and Changing Facilities. Retrieved from http://www.lgbt.cusu.cam.ac.uk/campaigns/think/recommendations
Carrigan, M., Gupta, K., & Morrison, T. G. (2013). Asexuality Special Theme Issue Editorial. Psychology & Sexuality, 4(2), 111–120.
Choudrey, S. (2016). Inclusivity: Supporting BAME Trans People. GIRES. Retrieved from http://www.gires.org.uk/assets/Support-Assets/BAME_Inclusivity.pdf
Elan-Cane, C. (2015, December 24). Non-gendered—Fighting for Legal Recognition. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/christie-elancane/non-gendered_b_8870260.html
Fricker, M. (2007). Epistemic Injustice: Power and the Ethics of Knowing. New York: Oxford.
Galop. (2011). Transphobia. Retrieved from http://www.galop.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Transphobia-A4.pdf
Gendered Intelligence. (2013). Non-binary Gender Identities: Information for Trans People & Allies. Retrieved from http://cdn0.genderedintelligence.co.uk/2013/02/12/12-35-49-nonbinary0213.pdf
Genderqueer in the UK. (2016). All the Information You Need to be Recognised Outside of the Gender Binary. Retrieved from http://www.genderqueerintheuk.wordpress.com
Gust, O. (2016, March 22). Non-binary Performance Through Time. Presentation to the Moving Beyond the Binaries of Sex and Gender Conference, University of Leeds.
Hines, S. (2016, March 22). Trans Studies: Reflections and Advances. University of Leeds Seminar.
House of Commons Women and Equalities Commission. (2016). Transgender Equality. HC390. Retrieved from http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmwomeq/390/390.pdf
Howitt, H. (2016). Escape the Binary. Retrieved from http://www.escapethebinary.com
Large, L. (2016, March 22). Moving Towards a Non-binary Account of Gender Dysphoria. Presentation to the Moving Beyond the Binaries of Sex and Gender Conference, University of Leeds.
Lees, P. (2016, March 10). Placing a Transgender Woman in a Men’s Prison is a Cruel Punishment. The Independent. Retrieved from http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/paris-lee-placing-a-trans-woman-in-a-mens-prison-is-a-cruel-and-unusual-punishment-a6923831.html
Lester, C. N. (2015, July 5). “Genderfluid is the New Black”: On the Media’s Non-binary Moment. Retrieved from http://www.cnlester.wordpress.com/2015/07/05/genderfluid-is-the-new-black-on-the-medias-non-binary-moment
Lester, C. N. (2016, March 22). Challenging Canonicity: Musicology in Trans Activism. Presentation to the Moving Beyond the Binaries of Sex and Gender Conference, University of Leeds.
Lorimer, S. (2016, January 14). Transgender Equality: Moving Away from Psychiatry. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dr-stuart-lorimer/transgender-equality-movi_b_8977614.html
Nestle, J., & Wilchins, R. A. (2002). Genderqueer: Voices from Beyond the Sexual Binary. New York: Alyson Publications.
NHS England. (2015). Treatment and Support of Transgender and Nonbinary People Across the Health and Care Sector: Symposium Report. National Health Service Commissioning Board. Retrieved from http://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/09/symposium-report.pdf
Nonbinary.org. (2016a). Nonbinary Gender Visibility, Education and Advocacy Network. Retrieved from http://www.nonbinary.org
Nonbinary.org. (2016b). Recognition. Retrieved from http://www.nonbinary.org/wiki/Recognition
Non-binary Inclusion Project. (2016). Non-binary Inclusion Project. Retrieved from http://www.nonbinary.co.uk
Non-binary London. (2016). London Non-binary/Genderqueer Meet-up! Retrieved from http://www.nonbinarylondon.tumblr.com
Non-binary Scotland. (2016). Supporting Non-binary Gender People Living in Scotland. Retrieved from http://www.nonbinaryscotland.org
Open Barbers. (2016). Queer Friendly Hairdressing. Retrieved from http://www.openbarbers.tumblr.com
Piercy, M. (1976). Woman on the Edge of Time. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Queen, C., & Schimel, L. (Eds.). (1997). PoMoSexuals. San Francisco, CA: Cleis Press.
Richards, S. E. (2014, February 19). Facebook’s Gender Labeling Revolution. Time Magazine. Retrieved from http://time.com/8856/facebooks-gender-labeling-revolution
Saner, E. (2016, February 21). Caitlyn Jenner’s Got Company: Meet Kate Bornstein, the One-Woman Whirlwind Who’s Lived Many Lives. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/feb/21/kate-bornstein-interview-caitlyn-jenner-i-am-cait
Sanghani, R. (2015, December 14). Why the UK Should Ditch Male and Female Toilets for ‘Gender-Neutral’ Loos. The Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/why-the-uk-should-ditch-male-and-female-toilets-for-gender-neutr
ScottishTrans.org. (2016). UK Non-binary Survey. Retrieved from http://www.scottishtrans.org/our-work/research/uk-non-binary-survey
Serano, J. (2013). Excluded: Making Feminist and Queer Movements More Inclusive. New York: Seal Press.
Skelton, J. W. (2016). Transphobia: Deal with it and Become a Gender Transcender. Halifax, Canada: Lorimer Publications.
Slater, D. (2015, January 29). The Fire on the 57 Bus in Oakland. The New York Times Sunday Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/01/magazine/the-fire-on-the-57-bus-in-oakland.html?_r=0
Stonewall. (2015). Trans People and Stonewall. London: Stonewall. Retrieved from http://www.stonewall.org.uk/sites/default/files/trans_people_and_stonewall.pdf.
Titman, N. (2014). How Many People in the United Kingdom are Nonbinary? Retrieved from http://www.practicalandrogyny.com
Tobia, J. (2015, August 31). I am Neither Mr, Mrs nor Ms but Mx. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/31/neither-mr-mrs-or-ms-but-mx
Trans Media Watch. (2014). Understanding Non-binary People: A Guide for the Media. Retrieved from http://www.transmediawatch.org/Documents/non_binary.pdf
UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group. (2016, January 14). Transgender Equality Inquiry: A ‘Missed opportunity’ for Trans Asylum Seekers. Retrieved from http://www.uklgig.org.uk/?p=2101
Valentine, V. (2016, March 22). Specific Detriment: A Survey into Non-binary People’s Experiences in the UK. Presentation to the Moving Beyond the Binaries of Sex and Gender Conference, University of Leeds.
Vincent, B., & Erikainen, S. (2016, March 22). Moving Beyond the Binaries of Sex and Gender: Non-binary Identities, Bodies, and Discourses. University of Leeds Conference, Conference booklet. Retrieved from http://www.gires.org.uk/pdfs/Conference%20Booklet.pdf
White, F. R. (2016, March 22). Teaching Gender, Being Non-binary. Presentation to the Moving Beyond the Binaries of Sex and Gender Conference, University of Leeds.
Whittle, S. (1996). Gender Fucking or Fucking Gender. In R. Ekins & D. King (Eds.), Blending Genders: Social Aspects of Cross-Dressing and Sex-Changing. Oxford: Psychology Press.
Wotever World. (2016). Queer Performance and Events in London and Around Europe. Retrieved from http://www.woteverworld.com
Further Reading
Barker, M.-J., & Scheele, J. (2016). Queer: A Graphic History. London: Icon Books.
Bornstein, K. (1994). Gender Outlaw. London: Routledge.
Bornstein, K., & Bergman, S. B. (Eds.). (2010). Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation. New York: Avalon Publishing Group.
Iantaffi, A., & Barker, M.-J. (2017). Gender: A Guide for Every Body. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Serano, J. (2013). Excluded: Making Feminist and Queer Movements More Inclusive. New York: Seal Press.
Wilchins, R. A. (1997). Read My Lips: Sexual Subversion and the End of Gender. Ann Arbor, MI: Firebrand Books.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2017 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bear Bergman, S., Barker, MJ. (2017). Non-binary Activism. In: Richards, C., Bouman, W., Barker, MJ. (eds) Genderqueer and Non-Binary Genders. Critical and Applied Approaches in Sexuality, Gender and Identity. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-51053-2_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-51053-2_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-137-51052-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-51053-2
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)